Live and in person at the Hamilton Family Theatre, Cambridge, produced by Drayton Entertainment, playing until Nov. 3, 2024.
Book and lyrics by Robert L. Freedman
Music and lyrics by Steven Lutvak
Based on a novel by Roy Horniman
Directed and choreographed by Adam Cates
Music director, Nico Rhodes
Set by Ryan Howell
Based on original costume design by Linda Cho
Lighting by Jeff JohnstonCollins
Sound by Allan McMillan
Cast: Ellen Denny
Eddie Glen
Daniel Greenberg
Elena Howard-Scott
Amanda Leight
Michael-Lamont Lyttle
Charlotte Moore
Tyler Murree
Powell Nobert
Sarah O’Brecht
Karen Wood
This is a lively, buoyant rendering of the Tony Award winning musical A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.
From the website: “In 1907 London, England, penniless clerk Monty Navarro is delighted to learn that he’s eighth in life for an earldom n the esteemed D’Ysquith family. Figuring his odds of outliving his predecessors are slight, he sets off down a sinister path knocking off his relatives one by one with his sights set on the family title and fortune.
All the while, this loveable cad has to juggle his mistress and his fiancée and the constant threat of being caught!”
It’s not really a ‘whodunit” because Monty says ‘he dun it” and we see him plotting to do it, so there is no mystery. The fun is in the singing, dancing and clever ways of doing in the successive Earls.
Daniel Greenberg plays Monty Navarro with panache, sophistication and total charm. He has a grand singing voice and endless energy juggling the various plot lines of murder and making sure his mistress and his fiancée don’t actually get to know that he is balancing both of them.
Playing all the various Earls of D’Ysquith and perhaps a servant or two is Tyler Murree using various quick-change disguises and accents. And he dies beautifully and inventively through all of it. Ellen Denny plays Phoebe D’Ysquith with sophistication and wit and is not one of the D’Ysquiths in line for anything. As her rival Sibella, Elena Howard-Scott is sweet, down-to-earth but with a touch of pouting. Both women sing beautifully and with flair.
Director/Choreographer Adam Cates directs and choregraphs with assurance. I must confess I found the movement and constant shifting in locations ramped up to warp speed and very busy and distracting. Robert L. Freedman’s Book and Lyrics are clever and very funny and Steven Lutvak’s music will keep you interested.
Drayton Entertainment presents:
Plays until Nov. 3, 2024.
Running time: 2 hour, 30 minutes (1 Intermission)